- Stretching images and type. Don’t fucking do it. There are other ways to make an image or text fit. Change the copy by changing the font size or variant, restructure the words, or kern better. With images, it is so easy to see when they have been stretched horizontally or vertically. Just don’t do it. You can fix it by cropping, adding extra to the background, or tactfully filling in the space with something that adds to the composition.
- Strokes on strokes on strokes on strokes. One stroke is fine. Leave multiple strokes in the bedroom. Not on an artboard.
- More than 3 typefaces on one document. This is the most stupid thing you can do. There are some ways of doing this correctly with taste, like using one type of serif, a sans serif, and a script on one page. But it is a delicate balance. I suggest using a font family and using its different variants if you want to change up the copy.
- When sending other people your files to print, use, alter, revise, etc… EMBED your images, and OUTLINE, EXPAND, or send the file with the fonts in a package. I can’t tell you how many times people have sent over a file that when opened, prompts that I am missing a font. This should never happen. Unless you are sending a PDF (because this means that all elements are automatically outlined and expanded), make sure all your native files in Illustrator have all the copy outlined, package the font in a folder with the file when in Photoshop, or pre-flight in InDesign, which automatically packages all the images and fonts with the document file. Expanding is so important, too, because when elements have strokes and are skewed, sometimes the next person may not have the scaling option set to having the stroke scale with the object. For this reason, it is wise to expand your strokes. Oh yes… It is also wise to embed images if you don’t have the images in the package. It’s just easier in the long run if linking isn’t necessary.
- Pixelated and/or stolen images. Tacky. If the picture isn’t high-res, don’t use it. If you ABSOLUTELY have to use it, at least have it at 72 dpi for shittiest print sake. Don’t scale that shit. If you “steal” an image, you’re an ass. Either buy it, give credit to the photographer/rights owner, or recreate it with Photoshop or Illustrator. No need to be a dick about it. Play nice.
These are just a few that come to mind. More to come.
